Not Just Another Number

The Lab

Sarah's POV

"What are you doing here?" Nancy asks, stepping closer to us. I let go of Steve's hand and meet her in the middle. "What are you doing here?" I counter.

"We're looking for Mike and Will." I stiffen, feeling my hands shake. "They're not in there, are they?" I ask as I point at the lab. She shakes her head. "We're not sure. Why?"

I move to respond, but something else answers. A loud demonic screetch fills the quiet area, making us all look at the lab. "Are you sure he's in there?" Johnathan asks. We all huddle up in a circle.

"Most likely. He was with Mom last I saw him." I tell him, running my hand through my hair nervously. We all start talking at once, trying to remember the last time we saw him.

I'm standing next to Nancy, both of us facing the lab. Everyone's voices begin to mix. Suddenly, Nancy starts to walk away, getting closer to the lab. "The power's back." She yells at us. We all look at the lab, seeing every window lit up, then back at each other.

"The gate." I whisper. Johnathan runs over to the guard's station out in front of the gate, with the rest of us following. He gets there first and starts pressing buttons. It doesn't work.

"Let me try." Dustin says as he pushes him out of the box. It still doesn't work. "Son of a bitch." He says, hitting the button harder.

I sigh and turn back to face the gate. It looms over me like a monster, making a chill go down my spine. Despite that feeling, I walk closer to it.

Just burn it down. Simple right? I clench my hands, desperately trying to heat them up, but it doesn't work. Please, I can't freeze up now! I clench harder, and smile at the small licks of heat that reach my fists.

I open my hands and grab the bars on the gate. I try to push the heat out of my hands, but it doesn't want to leave. It just slowly disappears back into my body. I grunt and shake the bars in frustration. "Shit!" I hiss under my breath.

"Well, you gonna do it or what?" I hear Johnathan ask from behind me. I turn around, only holding the gate with one hand. "What?"

"Burn down the gate?"

"I can't."

"Why not? It's easy."

"It's not as easy as it seems, Johnthan."

"What's so hard about it? It's burning down a gate?" He pushes. I sigh and shake my head. "There's more to it than that." He scoffs and roll his eyes. I let go of the gate and start to walk back to the box. "I don't want to explain this." I feel him grab my shoulder, stopping me. "Why not?"

"You now why."

"That's the thing! We don't know! You don't tell us anything. You've been keeping everything to yourself this entire year. None of us even know why you aren't allowed here!" I push his hand off my shoulder and turn to look at him, glaring.

"I don't tell you because it doesn't pertain to you." I say lowly. He rolls his eyes. "Of course it pertains to us, we're your family. You're supposed to tell us this kind of stuff."

"Johnathan, maybe we shouldn't push her." Nancy tries to convince Johnathan, but I put my hand out to stop her.

"No Nance, he's right. I'm supposed to have no secrets and just pour out all my problems to you guys. Well, you wanna hear my secret? I'm scared, terrified even! I can't use my powers because they just shut down when I'm anywhere near this place. My powers don't work at all when I'm scared."

"Why does this place scare you so much?" A new voice joins. I look behind me and spot Max's confused face. My glare softens and I sigh, trying to calm down. I take a step back and wipe my face, now noticing the tears falling down silently.